Sharing my Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe today that will have your guests coming back for more helpings! It is perfectly cheesy, flavorful and great for feeding a crowd.
Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe, these words just go together! This is a variation of my Perfect Mac and Cheese that really takes mac and cheese to the next level! Take a look and make yourself a big pot….today! Enjoy!
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Mac and Cheese Recipe
Let’s start by cooking your pasta. Make sure you do NOT overcook your pasta. You want a nice bite to your pasta so there’s some texture. I always cook it 1 minute less than the box says so there’s a little bite. It also cooks more in the cheese sauce.
Once your pasta is cooked al dente, drain.
Let the pasta sit aside for a few minutes while you prepare the roux.
How To Make a Mac and Cheese Roux
To make a simple and flavorful roux, start by melting a stick of butter in a medium saucepan.
Whisk in the flour.
Whisk in the salt and pepper. A very important step is to continue stirring for a good 3-4 minutes until roux turns a bit darker in color. It becomes richer and even more fabulous.
Slowly stir in the milk until mixture is thick and creamy. This step will take a couple minutes over medium heat.
Bring on the cheese!
I prefer a finely shredded mild cheddar. It melts quickly and has a perfect “cheddar” flavor.
Yes!
Time to transfer your cooked pasta back to a large dutch oven or pot.
Pour that fabulous cheese sauce over your noodles.
Almost there!
Perfect! You can eat the mac and cheese just like this if you’d like or keep scrolling down for the rest of the recipe.
Green chilies and chicken please.
Bacon and salsa verde.
I used about 1/4 cup chopped chives. Green onions work too, but I like how small the chives are 🙂 Give it a good stir and you are ready to eat! Note: To thin the sauce add tablespoons of milk until your desired consistency. We like it thick, so you be the judge.
Green Chili, Chicken and Bacon Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound dry small pasta I used elbow
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 cups milk I used skim
- 2 cups finely shredded mild cheddar cheese
- two 4 ounce cans diced green chilies
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 2 cups cooked crumbled bacon pieces (about 1 pound cooked)
- 1/4 cup mild salsa verde
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside for a few minutes.
- To prepare roux, melt butter into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted whisk in flour, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes until color of roux will gets slightly darker. Slowly whisk in milk, stirring continuously until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir in cheese until melted.
- Transfer cooked pasta to large dutch oven or pot over low heat. Pour cheese sauce over top, stirring to combine.
- Add green chilies, chicken, bacon and salsa verde, stirring to combine. This is a thick and creamy sauce. To thin sauce, add additional tablespoons of milk at a time until at desired consistency.
Nutrition
Pin Bacon Mac and Cheese
Welcome to my online kitchen! Picky Palate is where you’ll find family friendly recipes along with the best Disney eats, tips and copycat recipes! 
I have been making this since you initially posted the recipe and my super picky husband and I devour it every time! We’re expecting our first little bean in a few weeks and I’m trying to stock up on freezer meals. Do you think this recipe would hold up in the freezer if I undercook the pasta a bit?
I have made this several times and my whole family LOVES it. Thank you for sharing this goodness!
So glad to hear it Camille. Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Oh my, this looks divine! Talk about taking your mac and cheese and kicking it up a notch!
This was great, but I’d suggest using a full pound of pasta. It seemed like the perfect amount for all ingredients!
I can’t thank you enough for this delicious recipe. The hubs and I loved it.
My eyes refuse to leave the screen and this mac and cheese recipe. Oh my, I can’t wait to try it. Yup, it’s going on next week’s menu. Saved!
I need this in my life ASAP!
This looks amazeballs!!
What a warm and comforting meal! Looks delicious, Jenny! 🙂
OMG. Pinned!
Those bowls are so cute!!!!
dying for a tub of this right now Jenny!
Mmmmmm. It is like fall here & this would be the perfect dinner!
Chives and bacon? Yes please.
Green chilies are like candy in my house. Looks like I know what to make for dinner. Yum!
Looks great will try sure to love
Love it, Jenny!
Mac and cheese is my weakness, you are making me cry… from happiness! 🙂
Holy Cow, this looks delicious!
I LOVE bacon in mac n cheese!! It’s the best combo ever!
Oh my gosh. Swoon. Must make this ASAP. Your dinner recipes are the best, Jenny!! 🙂 xoxo
this is another winner, Jenny!! Looks so good!
Question: My tried and true mac & cheese recipe is from Betty Crocker. After I mix the cheese sauce with the pasta and mix-ins, it goes into a casserole dish to be baked up with a nice crusty layer. Yours seems to be a nice, thick consistency like mine, but I love the crispy bits of browning on the edges.
Why no bake time for this one? Personal preference?
I love this assortment of mix-ins, btw. I might have to give it a go!
Good question. I too love a good baked mac & cheese with a crusty top. However, sometimes the baked mac & cheese is not as cheesy as I’d like so I wanted to create a stove top mac & cheese. You will not regret trying it. Please let me know how it goes.
I am completely dead right now.
Such a good looking pot of mac & cheese! YUM!
Such a grown up mac-n-cheese. Sounds wonderful!
Do you have troubles with clumping cheese sauce when you use bagged shredded cheese? Yours looks pretty creamy.
No, not with a correctly done Rue.
What an amazing twist!! Sounds totally drool worthy!
I would love this!! I’ll be making it soon (minus the Green chilies 🙁 hubby is allergic) but everything else looks great!
Ok – now I want the amped up version of mac and cheese! Wow.
Delicious. Thank you!
Another winning mac and cheese!
An wow! Just wow! This is some lick the bowl clean mac and cheese. I NEED this!
I am such a sucker for mac and cheese, but green chili chicken mac and cheese? I AM IN LOVE!
Are you kidding me?? Completely IN LOVE with this mac and cheese!! Will you come cook me dinner??? 🙂
and there she is. WOW!
I’m seeing so many delicious mac and cheese recipes around recently that it’s making me crave some desperately! Going to have to make this one – the salsa verde is right up my street.